The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-08

the sky, and who watches little chill
dren through the clouds; that if they
are good he does not harm them, but if
they are naughty, some day he will
come down and carry them off and
burn them; let him be told some such
story as this and doubtless, before the
week is out half the children of the
town have been treated to a recital
of it.
On the other hand you tell to your
scholar the story of the "Prodigal Son"
Tell him of how that father in the
story ran so joyfully to meet and bless
his prodigal son, is the picture which
Jesus has drawn for us Of our Heaven
ly Father, who loves all his children,
loves them better than earthly fathers
can love, and will always receive them
back and bless them when they are
sorry for being naughty tell him the
story of Gods fatherhood, and when
this other boy comes with his story of
an angry Deity he can open up to him
new chapter of revelation, and give
him more desirable description of
Deity; he can at least give him to know
that there is difference of opinion as
to what God is like; that there are two
stories abroad in the neighborhood con-
corning Our Heavenly Father, and he
may credit the one that seems most
likely. The Sunday school scholar,
therefore, can be made very efficient
minister of the church in scattering its
doctrines; in spreading abroad those
notions of God, of life, of destiny,
which are to shape the thoughts and
the lives of rising generations.
More than this; he may become the
minister of it's moral sentiments and
convictions.
Having been instructed in the Sun
day school in all the better motives
and impulses of his nature, having, for
instance, been schooled in the princi-
pies of truthfulness, temperance, clean
speech, kindness to animals, respect
for superiors, charity for interiors, a
cheerful readiness to perform given
task-having been imbued with the
spirit OF these things he goes out
pledged, in his word and in his life, to
their support. He becomes an infu-
eDce, strong influence for good in the
community. The lad that will join his
companions in profanity, in thieving
depredations, in cruelty to animals, in
sauciness and impudence to strangers,
in jeers at the unfortunate, in their tru-
ancies-any lad who will not join his
companions in such things becomes
the church's minister and their minis
ter for righteousness.
This is what the school may do for
the church in its younger days. AS it
grows older its scope of usefulnss can
be widened. 1t can constantly people
the church with fresh, young, energet-
ic, devoted members. And if it dc
this it will more than repay the church
for all she may have done for it.
1 would urge, therefore, both upon
the Sunday school and the church,
The Need of Mutual Helpfulness.
Let each befriend and encourage the
other. Let the church stay by the
Sunday school and its needs. Let the
Sunday school stay by the church and
help it in its great labor for righteous
ness and peace.
AS the old and feeble veterans, those
who for long years have stood by and
fought the good fight, are mustered out
of the lower service into the higher
let the fresh, young recruits step man
fully forward and take their places and
help to carry on the great war of right
against wrong, of good against evil, of
love against wilfulness, disobedience,
hatred,-of God against the demons
of human appetite and human passionl